NoHo ACE Announces DRACULA, Extended Thru 4/26

The multi-award-winning NoHo Arts Center Ensemble (NoHo ACE) in association with David Elzer are thrilled to announce that their critically-acclaimed (LA Times "SENSATIONAL!" LA Weekly PICK OF THE WEEK! Backstage CRITIC'S PICK!) all-new look at the timeless classic, DRACULA, dramatized by Hamilton Deane and John L. Balderston, based on Bram Stoker's novel , and directed by Ken Sawyer (The Woman in Black, Lovelace) is NOW EXTENDING through SUNDAY, APRIL 26 at the NoHo Arts Center, 11136 Magnolia Blvd. (at Lankershim) in North Hollywood.

Acclaimed director Ken Sawyer (The Woman in Black) brings his own vision (and additional scenes from Bram Stoker's original novel), to this adaptation which is a darker and sexier take on the legendary story, a tale of an evil ages old and yet forever new. Lucy Seward, whose father is the doctor in charge of an English sanitorium, has been attacked by some mysteriouss illness. Dr. Van Helsing, a specialist, believes that the girl is the victim of a vampire, who is at last, found to be one Count Dracula - whose ghost is only able to be laid to rest in a particularly striking manner. This graphic and sexually charged look at the timeless legend is certainly going to keep the blood flowing in a thrilling all-new production.

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM AND CASTKen Sawyer (Director, Sound Design) most recently directed the critically acclaimed world premiere of Lovelace A Rock Opera at the Hayworth Theatre written by Anna Woranker ("That Dog") and Charlotte Caffey ("The Go-Gos"). In the summer of 2008 he directed an all-star cast benefit performance of Paris Barclay's One Red Flower at the Rubicon and Brentwood Theatres featuring Hunter Parrish, David Burnham, and Maureen McGovern. Additional directing credits include Crime & Punishment at The Actors Co-Op (3 LA Ovation Award Nominations), The Woman in Black at the Coronet and the Road Theatres (5 LA Ovation awards, 4 LA Drama Critics Circle Awards), Backwards in High Heels, A Mislaid Heaven (four LA Ovation Award nominations), The Angels of Lemnos (LA Ovation Award nomination Best Director), Cinghiale (Emi Productions), Emperor of the Moon and Dancing at Lughnasa (Guest Director California State University Northridge), One Red Flower (Guest Director Carnagie Mellon University), In Good Company (at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre with Lee Lessack, Stephan Schwartz, and Ann Hampton Callaway), Three Men and a Baby Grand Salute the Rat Pack (Orange County Performing Arts Center), the 2007 workshops of Lovelace the Rock Opera at the Hayworth Theatre, and co-directed with Taylor Gilbert Hitler's Head and Home Fires (Road Theatre). Ken is a BFA graduate of The Juilliard School and has toured with John Houseman's The Acting Company.

The cast of DRACULA features Rob Arbogast as Dracula, Joe Hart as Van Helsing, Darcy Jo Martin as Lucy, J.R. Mangels as Jonathan Harker, Alex Robert Holmes as Renfield, Karesa McElheny as Dr. Seward, Mara Marini as Mina, Tahni Delong as the Maid and Chad Coe as the Attendant.

The production has assembled an award-winning design team. The Set Design is by Desma Murphy (The Woman in Black). The Lighting Design is by Ovation Award-winner Luke Moyer (Elizabeth Rex). The Sound Design is by Ken Sawyer. The Costume Design is by Paula Higgins.

DRACULA is EXTENDING through SUNDAY, APRIL 26 at the NoHo Arts Center, 11136 Magnolia Blvd. (at Lankershim) in North Hollywood. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm; Sundays at 3pm. (There will be no performance on Easter Sunday, April 12). Ticket prices are $25.00 for all performances. Student/Senior Tickets and preview are $20. For tickets, please call 818-508-7101 x7 or visit www.thenohoartscenter.com.

THE NOHO ARTS CENTER and THE NOHO ARTS CENTER ENSEMBLE (formerly Open At The Top Productions) were created in 2004, when theatre veterans James J. Mellon and Kevin Bailey partnered with Doug Hutchinson and purchased the American Renegade Theatre. Following extensive renovations, the newly christened The NoHo Arts Center opened its doors in September of 2004. The Center's resident company - the multiple award-winning NoHo Arts Center Ensemble (NoHo ACE) - is comprised of actors, directors and writers, galvanized into a passionate ensemble that creates new plays and musicals, adopting as their vision statement "Theatre for Its Own Sake."

In its first season, producing as OPEN AT THE TOP, the company mounted two World Premiere musicals, including THE GHOST & MRS. MUIR, along with the West Coast Premiere of the musical DORIAN. The season also boasted both parts of Tony Kushner's ANGELS IN AMERICA, the Los Angeles Premiere of Seth Greenland's JERUSALEM and four evenings of 24 HOURS OF MADNESS-where six 15-minute original plays are written, fully produced and performed off-book within a 24-hour period. Their second season brought the hit, re-imagined production of the musical BARNUM, the critically acclaimed ELIZABETH REX and the World Premiere musical A BOY CALLED LIZARD.

Seasons three and four brought the company even greater acclaim as it presented the world premiere play, FEED, written by company member Jim Lunsford; the West Coast Premiere of the hit New York musical revue, BUSH IS BAD; and the award winning play, PALACE OF THE END. The just completed fourth season brought three world premieres, the musicals YO HO HO! A PIRATE'S CHRISTMAS, and PEST CONTROL - THE MUSICAL, and the play DEPARTURES. In four exciting years, THE NOHO ARTS CENTER has garnered three Ovation Awards and 19 nominations; two Garland Awards, along with 10 nominations; eight ADA Awards (including Best Director and Choreography for LIZARD) and 24 nominations; three LA Weekly Awards and five LA WEEKLY nominations; and three LADCC Award nominations.